A hot Saturday in early February was the setting for a Trash to Treasure car boot sale, hosted by the Watering Hole Patio Bar in Masaki, Dar es Salaam. House of Blue Hope was invited to attend with a stall sponsored by a generous supporter, while clothes and shoes had been donated by many generous donors, among them Children’s Birthday Miracles, to be exchanged for donations in support of the new girls’ house and community center in Mabibo. Shelly, a local HBH supporter, had organized a face painting station for the younger attendees of the day, while Musa, a recent House of Blue Hope alumni, helped man the stall.

With a flurry of activity, our fellow stall holders were laying out all manner of trinkets and treasures, from shoes and hats, to mirrors and tents, books and beads. Local book shop A Novel Idea had brought along a fine collection of books, while Kitenge Queen had a colorful array of wares all wrapped in beautiful kitenge fabric. With our own merchandise laid out for inspection by the public, we took a moment to enjoy the cool shade and refreshments on offer.

While the public perused the bric-a-brac and listened to the music, some of the younger attendees took the opportunity to get their faces painted in exchange for a small donation.

Members of the public also brought along clothes, books, and stationery for the kids at the house. Such donations given to the charity are always welcomed. Any gifts of clothes and learning materials for the kids to use are indispensable.

(Left) Members of the public ask Country Director Daudi Mboma about the work the charity does (Right) Musa takes donations in exchange for goods.

The whole experience was wonderful and helped House of Blue Hope raise its profile among the community in Masaki. All proceeds will be channeled into supporting the vulnerable girls who will be joining the project this year, as well as the community center, so that the charity can have a broader positive impact in the surrounding community in Mabibo. Another aim for the non profit organization is the ongoing support of House of Blue Hope alumni who are taking their first steps towards full time employment, having completed Diplomas and Degrees. By raising HBH’s profile throughout the city we hope to raise awareness of the talented alumni who have worked very hard to achieve academic and vocational success. The nonprofit organization looks to build good relationships with local business leaders who are in a position to offer valuable insight into what it takes to succeed in industry, and guidance for how best to get a foot in the door.

After a great day talking to the public and collecting donations, it was time to pack up shop, and to our surprise some of the stall owners who had a few unsold bits and pieces, kindly donated them to the charity.

Thank you everyone who helped make the day happen, everyone who donated goods to the cause, and the people who took the time to learn more about the nonprofit organisation’s aims! If you would like to know more about the work House of Blue Hope does, or how you can get involved in helping the alumni who are completing their tertiary education please email us at info@houseofbluehope.org

A special thank you to CJ Eklund Fine Art Photography for donating her time and considerable talents to photograph the event. House of Blue Hope is very grateful for the support.